Talk - Green Men, Gargoyles and Other Fanciful Creatures by Pat McLaughlin (Worksop)

The next Priories Historical Society meeting is on Thursday February 6th  2014 at the BCVS, next to Worksop Priory on Priorswell Road, Worksop starting at 7.30pm

Why were Christians putting pagan figures in their churches and what were they for? What is a sheilanagig? Pat is a well know speaker and expert on churches and comes to explain all.

Hope to see you there.

Event - FOLK TALES OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (Worksop)

The next PHS meeting is on November 7th at the BCVS, next to Worksop Priory on Priorswell Road, Worksop

FOLK TALES OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE – Pete Castle. Author and Folk Singer.

Passed from generation to generation, Nottinghamshire’s folk tales have been gathered by Pete Castle, author, into a book. It includes outlaws and of course Robin Hood; the clever Men of Gotham; witches, ghosts and vampires as well as noble lords and thwarted lovers. A new speaker for the Society but an unusual subject and well worth a visit!

Hope to see you there. The talk starts at 7.30pm

Event - Segelocum (Worksop)

The next Priories Historical Society meeting is on Thursday September 5th at 19.30 - a talk on the Roman town of Segelocum by Emily Gillott of Nottinghamshire County Council's Community Archaeology team.

Come and hear of the historical settlement of Segelocum on the river Trent, now more commonly known as Littleborough, the town was one of the biggest in Roman Nottinghamshire

The talk starts at 7.30pm at the BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Priory Church, Priorswell Road, Worksop, S80 2BU. Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members) Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at each meeting. Membership remains the same at only £5 per year.

Event - The Curious World of Olde time Punishments (Worksop)

Ian Morgan comes to talk to the Priories Historical Society on old criminal punishments on July 4th.  From birching to branding and beheading. 

Listen to stories of ducking stools and witches, the pillory and perjurers. How do you punish the dead, or a horse and cart, or a train? What is a deodand or a Newcastle cloak? And what about the Branks or the Hand of Glory.

7.30pm at the BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Priory Church, Priorswell Road, Worksop, S80 2BU. Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members) Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at each meeting. Membership remains the same at only £5 per year.

Event - CBA Festival of Archaeology (Worksop)

Priories Historical Society are pleased to announce a history event taking place at Worksop Library on Memorial Avenue on 13-14th July as part of the CBA Festival of Archaeology.

Several of the areas local history societies will be attending as well as Worksop Civic Society.  There will be an exhibition on Worksop's early history as well as finds from previous excavations.

The event will be open between 09.30-16.00 on Saturday and between 12.00-15.30 on Sunday.

Event - Tickhill Castle Open Day

Tickhill Castle will be open this Sunday 11th June between 2pm and 5pm

Not sure if there is an entrance fee but it's well worth a visit and the weather should be lovely.

Event - Great Houses and Halls (Worksop)

 Pat McLaughlin, one of the areas greatest experts on churches and mansions gives an illustrated talk on the local halls, manors and great houses. Come and discover the facts on our local areas surviving and long gone palatial pads, who owned them and some interesting facts.
June 6th starting at 7.30pm at the BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Priory Church, Priorswell Road, Worksop, S80 2BU. Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members) Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at each meeting. Membership remains the same at only £5 per year.

Event - Masterplan for Castlegate (Sheffield)

This Its in the Friday and Saturday 17th/18th May Sheffield City Council will be putting on a display on its proposal to investigate the remains of Sheffield Castle from 10/11am onwards.

The Event will take place in the Winter Gardens

Community archaeology - Excavation at Rufford

Nottinghamshire County Councils Community archaeology Team will be running a volunteer excavation at Rufford between 1st and 12th July this year (excluding weekends).  The first week will be run as a field school, and the second week will be a general volunteer dig.  No experience is necessary and spaces are very limited.  See below for more details.

Archaeological Field School - Mon 1st to Fri 5th July

 This week is ideal for people who want to get a proper introduction to professional excavation techniques.  They will be excavating the foundations of an ornamental gateway at the north end of the Broad Drive, near to the mill.  This is part of a project to preserve the remaining stonework with a view to potentially reinstating the ornamental gates.  The dig day will commence at 9.30am and finish at 4pm, with time for lunch in the middle.

If you wish to sign up to the field school you must be able to come for all 5 days.  If you have been on one of their field schools before you are welcome to come again, but priority will be given to people who haven't attended one of our Field Schools previously.

Volunteer Excavation - Mon 8th to Fri 12th July

This week is for anyone to join in with, although it may not be suitable for young children (please get in touch if you have children who would like to participate).  The excavation during this week will be looking at a disused water channel that may have a medieval origin.  They will also be looking at some of the former garden features to see if we can see evidence of their layout.  The dig day will commence at 9.30am and finish at 4pm, with time for lunch in the middle.

You can come for as many or as few days as you like.  No experience is necessary, and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you have any questions, or would like to book on to either of the above activities, please get in touch at community.archaeology@nottscc.gov.uk or on 0115 969 6525. 

Please keep in mind that excavation is a physical activity, and they will not be doing post processing (pot washing etc) on site.  If you are interested in helping out with post processing activities, such as pot washing or data entry, please get in touch with them to see what opportunities we currently have.

Event - May Day Sunrise with Rattlejag Morris (Laxton)

As the first sunrise of the summer comes up over the horizon to gently touch on Laxton’s ancient fields and hedgerows, the most wonderful place to watch is from the small hill that is the remains of the village’s old motte and bailey castle.  And who better to enjoy that with than the local morris side, Rattlejag, and their friends and supporters, who arrive there from around 5.20am every 1^st May to dance and sing in the May Day dawn.  And they give a warm welcome to anyone who wants to share that magical moment with them and will even provide a barbecued breakfast buttie and beer – or hot tea – after the revels in return for a small donation.  It must be a special time, as many people have been returning to rural Laxton, Notts, for this early morning celebration for many years over the 30 and more it has been happening, so it has become an established local tradition now.  Find the site by going up Hill Lane opposite the church (NG22 ONX) and across the field – do come in warm and sturdy clothing.  Rosemary Fabian, the side’s “squire”, says “we will all be there whatever the weather, so come and join us.”  Rattlejag have further information available through their website www.rattlejagmorris.org.uk or you can contact Jayne on 01522 703510.

And if you are interested in the amazing history of Laxton, in rural Nottinghamshire, or in wildlife and rambling, then you can also join Rattlejag’s event as part of the Dawn Chorus Walk organised separately by Stuart Rose, the expert on Laxton’s history and farming.  Walkers visit all three Anglo-Saxon fields to identify the birds who are also ‘up with the lark’. This begins at 5.00am at the Visitor Centre by the Dovecote Inn – contact Stuart on 07939 228353 or check out www.laxtonnotts.org.uk/Guided_walks.htm.

Via Rattlejag Morris

Event - Annual Perambulation of Thynghowe (Edwinstowe)

The annual walk to Thynghowe takes place on  Saturday April 20^th.  This event is inspired by the perambulations of the Lordship of Warsop as recorded in the document from 1816 that influences much of our  work.  The walk will start at 10am and progress will be slow as we will pause to hear accounts of past events in the woodlands.  There are many stories to tell including  tales of ancient stones, the influence of the Dukes of Portland, the legacy of World War II and Viking age assemblies from a thousand years ago.  We also take in the wildlife and plants and reflect on the impact of changes in woodland management over the years.

 

The walk to Thynghowe and back is about 3 miles and should take between 3 and 4 hours.
 

This event is free and suitable for active folk of all ages. Young people under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. There are no toilet facilities in the Forest (but plenty of trees!). 
 

You will need waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear. Bring a packed lunch and a drink.

If you would like to come along please book your place by contacting the Greenwood Community Forest Team by email on greenwood@nottscc.gov.uk or by phoning 0115 9696518 or 07740 845574.

Via Friends of Thynghowe

News - New plan for area’s history (Notts)

Historical figures with Notts links such as Robin Hood and the Pilgrim Fathers can help the county’s economy to grow

That’s according to the Notts Growth Plan which was approved by member of Notts County Council’s policy committee this week.

The plan includes proposed to develop a major new visitor experience at Sherwood Forest and a feasability study into a new attraction based on the history of the Pilgrim Fathers in Bassetlaw.

The tourism plans are amongst almost 50 major proposals to support businesses, create training opportunities, improve infrastructure and bring jobs and growth to the area.

Notts County Council chief executive Mick Burrows, who has led the development of the Growth Plan, said: “I have been blown away by the enthusiasm, ideas and commitment to growth shown by Nottinghamshire’s business community. It bodes extremely well for the future economic prospects of the county.”

The planis available to download at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/growthplan

From: http://www.dinningtontoday.co.uk/news/local-news/new-plan-for-area-s-history-1-5589812

Save Worksop Tourist Information Centre

Despite the decision to Close Worksop Tourist Information Centre in 2005 was overturned Bassetlaw District Council are at it again! This time the excuse of saving money has been put forward as the reason (anyone else noticed the not so cheap village signs that have popped up recently?). The reason less people are visiting is that it is hidden away now from the general gaze of people since the library moved. A new town centre location should be found and the TIC promoted.

We lost Worksop Museum several years ago and the council have done nothing for the Towns history - Soon tourists will have no face to face contact with people who can guide them around the areas best visitors spots.

a petition is available in the TIC in the Old Library on Memorial Avenue - please sign it to keep Worksop from finally becoming the back end of nowhere.

Dave C

Event - Chartism Day 2013 (Sheffield)

On 29th June there will be a conference at S€heffield University on the Chartist movement:
 
Programme
10.00-10.20 Registration and coffee
10.20-10.30 Welcome
10.30-12.15 Panel 1
Martin Hewitt (University of Huddersfield), ‘Chartism and the Taxes on Knowledge Campaign’
Robert G Hall (Ball State University), ‘Bookstores for the Millions: The Politics of Reading and Chartism, 1838-1848’
David Goodway, ‘George Julian Harney’s Late Journalism: The Newcastle Weekly Chronicle column, 1890-97’
12:15 Lunch
1.30-3:15 Panel 2
Jenny Cadwallender (PhD candidate. Manchester University), ‘“Amidst Tears, Cheers and Execrations”: Domesticity and the Politics of Chartist Women’
Timothy Keane, ‘Chartism and the Irish Famine’
Fabrice Bensimon, ‘Fraternal Democrats, French Republican Exiles and London Chartists’
3.15: Tea Break
3.30-4.30 Panel 3
Steve Poole, ‘Chartism and the Rural World’
Katrina Navickas, ‘What next for Chartist Studies’
4.30 Closing remarks
*NB: Professor Paul Pickering (ANU), leading historian of Chartism, will be giving a public lecture on Friday 28 June, entitled 'Telling the peoples’ story: writing, representing and selling the past in the age of affective history’. The lecture will commence at 6pm in the Peak Lecture Theatre, Sheffield Hallam University's City Campus. Please contact Matthew Roberts for further details. 

To register, please send a cheque for £13, payable to Sheffield Hallam University, to: Matthew Roberts, Owen Building Department of Humanities, Sheffield Hallam University, S1 1WB.

For further details see: http://events.history.ac.uk/event/show/9465

News - Tunnel vision for tourism (Newark)

Ground-penetrating radar is to be used to find out whether a subterranean system of caves and tunnels exists beneath Newark Market Place.

If they are found they could become a world heritage site with significant benefits for tourism, says an archaeologist and local historian who is working on the project.

Anne Coyne, of Farndon Archaeological Research Investigations, said: “Generations of people from Newark have perpetuated the myth of tunnels and passageways running under the town, but there has never been physical evidence of it.”

It is said that tunnels were created to protect townsfolk and aid movement of arms and supplies during the three Civil War sieges of Newark.

Initial research and radar-plotting of cellars and passageways will be carried out by Trent and Peak Archaeology, who have been doing similar work with the Notting-ham cave system. The project will start on April 2.

Anne, who is working with fellow local historian Mr Jim Wishart, said her research had turned up references to tunnels including some in former Advertiser editor Cornelius Brown’s History Of Newark.

She has found a manuscript from 1820 that refers to a vault beneath a market cross in the Market Place that was used as a jail and could have been part of a larger tunnel system.

“To locate this space and any wider network would be fantastic,” she said.

“They could have been built for reasons of security or as storage for treasures. An alternative is that religious leaders ordered them to be built.

“If they do exist, and I really hope that they do, we are potentially talking about a world heritage site. To my knowledge no town has such a system underneath it.

“Newark already has a largely unrivalled connection to the Civil War.”

Anne said a number of buildings had cellars that extended into the Market Place, including those now occupied by Star-bucks, Toni and Guy and Greggs, which was the former town governor’s house.

G. H. Porter Provisions on the corner of Bridge Street and the Market Place is one centuries-old shop with doors in its cellar that are blocked off.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is taking the lead on the research project, which also involves the town council and business club.

The district’s business manager for carparking and markets, Mr Ian Harrison, said: “For many years Newark people have talked of the mythical tunnels and passages that exist under the centre of Newark.

“It has been said that tunnels exist from the castle to the parish church, from the Chauntry to the church and castle, and from the Governor’s House on Stodman Street to the church.

The council is investigating what is beneath the Market Place so removable

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Tunnel-vision-for-tourism

News - Ambitious scheme to revamp Newstead Abbey

A GLOBAL organisation is spearheading an ambitious new bid to regenerate Newstead Abbey.

Representatives of the World Monument Fund (WMF) were among about 60 people who took part in a seminar at the abbey, which was Lord Byron’s ancestral home.

Founded in 1965, the WMF plays a major role in helping to restore important but ailing historic sites around the world.

The fund’s chief executive officer in Britain, Jonathan Foyle, said: “The necessary planning and relationship-building takes enormous work even to prepare for direct conservation. By its nature, this is an ongoing process.

“But the investment of time can enable beautiful buildings to be enjoyed by many people.

“Newstead Abbey already has a lot going for it but getting and maintaining support from the local community is absolutely vital.”

Coun David Trimble, the lead member for culture on Nottingham City Council, which owns the abbey, spoke during the first part of the seminar.

He said the major cuts suffered by the council in public funding had impacted on services right across the board.

A reduction in opening times at the abbey, which attracts Byron fans from many parts of the world, has proved highly controversial.

But Coun Trimble said: “I am confident we are doing all that can be done within our limited resources to maintain and improve the abbey.

“At the same time, it is a big step forward for the WMF to become involved. It is exactly right that this has happened.”

Talks followed on how the WMF has inspired spectacularly successful projects to restore the former Gorton Monastery in Manchester and Horace Walpole’s self-styled ‘little castle’ in Twickenham, London.

From:  http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/ambitious-scheme-to-revamp-newstead-abbey-1-5523994

News - Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery Refurbishment

Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery is set to benefit from a £130,000 refurbishment funded by an Arts Council England grant.

The refurbishment aims to improve visitors' experiences, increase its income and reduce electricity consumption.

It will include better quality and more energy efficient lighting, improved environmental control and re-fitting the shop and café area.

In order to complete the works the Museum and Art Gallery will be closed from Monday 25th to Friday 29th March.

The Museum will also be closed on Bank Holiday Monday 1st April.

Doncaster Council Director Adults and Communities Joan Beck said: "This work will see significant improvements made to the art gallery, shop, cafe and meetings facilities which will help make the museum more sustainable and give visitors a much better experience."

From: http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/db/enews/article.asp?Archive=&CatID=31&Art=5323

News - Thousands back hospital protest (Sheffield)

MORE than 3,600 people have now signed a protest petition against Sheffield University’s plans to knock down Jessop Hospital’s former Edwardian Wing.

The university wants to replace the Grade II-listed building with a new £80 million engineering block.

It says it cannot incorporate the old hospital block within its design for the redevelopment.

Sheffield Council has approved the scheme, despite planning officers initially being against the proposals.

But the scheme still needs final approval from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles for demolition of a listed building.

The Save Jessop Hospital Campaign is backed by local history groups and members of Sheffield Victorian Society.

The university claims the project is necessary because otherwise the engineering building would be much smaller, adding it has no use for the old hospital.

Visit www.jessophospital.org.uk/object for details of the campaign.
 

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/green-scene/thousands-back-hospital-protest-1-5502426

Talk - Raymoth Lane Excavation (Worksop)

Tickets are now available for the talk on Worksop's Raymoth Lane excavation from 2004. This was the last large scale dig in Worksop and due to estimated attendance it will be a ticket only event.

The talk takes place on Thursday 2nd May starting at 7.30pm at the BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Priory Church, Priorswell Road, Worksop, S80 2BU.

Tickets are available from the Secretary, Pam Cook by phoning 01909 732485 or sending a cheque payable to "Priories Historical Society" and a stamped addressed envelope to 15 Doncaster Road, Langold, Worksop. S81 9RY. Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members). Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at the meeting.

Event - CBA Festival of Archaeology 2013 (Worksop)

This year’s CBA Festival of Archaeology takes place between Saturday 13th and Sunday 28 July 2013 and marks the 22nd year of this event. 

The events are listed on their website at http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/whatson and as usual the Priories Historical Society will be getting involved. We'll keep you updated with our plans as we arrange the venue and details on our exhibition as soon as we've figured out what we're going to do (some work is currently under way). Our past two events in Worksop Library in 2011 and Radford Priory in 2012 were well attended and we hope to expand the displays this year. 

So follow us on Twitter/Facebook or our website for updates.

Event - Lady Arbella Stewart – The Queen That Never Was (Worksop)

David Templeman from the Manor House in Sheffield returns to Worksop to give a fascinating talk on Lady Arbella Stewart, Englands ‘lost queen’. Follow her life, the plot to overthrow James I and her final days in the Tower of London.

Thursday 4th April starting at 7.30pm.BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Priory Church, Priorswell Road, Worksop, S80 2BU. Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members) Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at each meeting. Membership to Priories Historical Society remains the same at only £5 per year.

Save Roman Southwell - Plan for Roman site opposed

Town councillors have objected to fresh plans for housing on the former Church Street site of The Minster School, Southwell.

Southwell Heritage Trust wants the site, where archaeologists have found a Roman villa said to be of national importance, to become a heritage park.

There were calls, at a meeting of Southwell Town Council planning committee, for Newark and Sherwood District Council to deal with the park proposal at the same time as the homes application.

The application is for nine homes, and proposes that the key archaeology be preserved in situ and not built on.

A Saxon burial ground has also been found at the site and could provide a link between the Roman occupation of Southwell and the minster cathedral.

The Southwell committee, whose comments are forwarded to the district council, objected to the homes for five main reasons.

These were the prematurity of the application, the proposed design and layout, the impact on the archaeology, the impact on views of the minster, and the absence of lower-cost housing.

The committee chairman for the night, Mrs Beryl Prentice, said the heritage trust application should be dealt with by the district council at the same time as the homes plan.

She said, and colleagues agreed, the homes plan was premature, because allocations mapping development in the district were being assessed by a planning inspector and the outcome wasn’t known.

Mr Peter Harris said it wasn’t a consideration as to whether the applicant made money from the sale of the homes or not.

He said that what branded the application a joke was the fact it was being suggested the homes would sell for £600,000 when he thought they would achieve seven figures.

Mr Harris said: “I am opposed to this application because I fundamentally don’t think it is appropriate to have this level of development in what is essentially now an open space.

“Any other town with an adjacent cathedral wouldn’t get significant development. Having said that district council planners seem keen for this site to be developed.”

A member of the public, Katie Todd, of Church Street, feared the application could bring flooding.

She said in 2007 30-40 properties were affected and recent deluges had led to worry of a repeat.

Another resident, Mr Peter Kent, said at 21/2 storeys high, the houses would be massive and views of the minster would be affected.

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Plan-for-Roman-site-opposed

News - County gives £1m to civil war centre (Newark)

A £1m contribution has been made by Nottinghamshire County Council to the new National Civil War Centre and museum to be built on Appletongate, Newark.

Mr Roger Jackson, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet member for leisure services, said: “The county council has always been interested in the museum project and has recognised the benefit it will bring to the whole county.”

A £3.2m Heritage Lottery grant has already been awarded towards the cost of the £5.4m project. Applications are being made to grant funding bodies to help meet the rest.

Tenders will be sought next month and are due to be awarded in June.

Building work should be completed by September, 2014, and it is anticipated that the museum will open on December 14, 2014.

The project will use the grade II listed Old Magnus buildings, including the Tudor Hall. They were used as a grammar school until 1922 when the site was sold to Newark Borough Council for a museum and education offices. They have been empty since 2005.

The single-storey museum building will be transformed into a National Civil War Centre (1642-1646) telling the story of how Newark residents coped as the Royalist town came under siege from the Parliamentarians.

Project manager Mrs Bryony Robins said: “We have a collection of our own but will also be loaning items from other museums. We hope the centre will become a springboard to other places where there is a focus on the Civil War.”

The Tudor Hall will be restored and left as an historic space that can be used for events such as concerts, theatre productions and weddings.

A mezzanine level will be installed where there will be a meeting room.

Two galleries have been allocated to tell the Newark story from prehistoric times to the present, which will mean a return of some of the items formerly in the Appletongate and Millgate museums.

One of the rooms will be used to display the Newark Torc, an Iron Age necklace found by Newark resident Mr Maurice Richardson with a metal detector. It is currently on loan to the British Museum.

Mrs Robins said there would be extra security to ensure the safety of the torc and other items.

A new glass-fronted building will be built to the left of the main building on a driveway between the museum and the Palace Theatre, which will be used as the entrance, with access to a lift for up to 14 people.

The top floor of the museum will be available for gallery space.

The Old Magnus Buildings will be open for public guided tours a week on Saturday ahead of its transformation.

Places must be booked on 01636 655733 or by emailing bryony.robins@nsdc.info

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/County-gives-1m-to-civil-war-centre-

Event - Modelling the Ice Age (Creswell Crags)

As part of National Science and Engineering Week, Dr. David Strange-Walker from Trent and Peak Archaeology will be giving a presentation about his pioneering work laser scanning the ancient caves. The 3D scans will be used to create a mobile application so that future visitors may explore the fascinating gorge through augmented reality. 

Entry is by donation. Sunday 17th March at 2pm in Creswell Crags Visitors Centre.

News - Thieves steal lead from South Yorks museum (Rotherham)

LEAD worth £70,000 has been stolen from the roof of a South Yorkshire museum.

Staff at Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham discovered the theft on Friday when they spotted water leaking in through the roof.

When checks were carried out it was discovered that thousands of pounds worth of lead had been stripped from the roof of the building.

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting incident number 204 of March 8.

From http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/thieves-steal-lead-from-south-yorks-museum-1-5490506

Event - The Hawle In The Pondes -Old Queens Head (Sheffield)

A combined acknowledgement/celebration of the refurbishment of Sheffield's oldest domestic building, the  Old Queens Head on Pond Street in Sheffield, is taking place on Wednesday, the 27th March, at 2pm. Its an ad hoc affair organised by the Friends of Manor Lodge and the Friends Of Sheffield Castle. Appearing will be Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury, aka Bess of Hardwick, trying to pull a pint with her lady in waiting and her estranged husband, the long suffering George Talbot,Sixth Earl of Shrewsbury. [He's had a shave to mark the occasion]. 

 

Also you can view some interesting artifacts found when the Old Queens Head was last renovated which have been moved to a more prominent location. Bring your camera's to record the occasion and have a natter with bigronclayton of Friends of Sheffield Castle and Friends of Manor Lodge. 

 

We will be in the OQH from 12:30 so why not pop in for a bite to eat and meet Zuzana Barincova, its new landlady and a representative from Thwaites Brewery, famed for its real ales.

 

Any enquiries to bigronclayton@sheffieldhistorytours

News - Historic Sheffield building saved by campaign

HISTORIC Portland Works has been bought outright by campaigners keen to save the Victorian building as an artistic and industrial base.

Purchase of the Grade II* listed complex, on Randall Street, Sheffield city centre, has been funded through a share and loan issue.

The announcement comes exactly 100 years since the world’s first stainless steel knives were made at the site in 1913 – and some of the tools created then are still in use.

Portland’s role within manufacturing history will be preserved under community ownership and developed as a home for manufacturing, artists and musicians.

An original purchase deal was struck a year ago and initially involved buying the building gradually in stages.

But Derek Morton, chairman of the Community Benefit Society which will run the works, has now accepted the keys to the full site on behalf of the group.

Legal difficulties nearly stopped the deal in December but the previous owners lowered the price so the sale could be completed.

A successful share and loan issue had been launched in 2011 but existing shareholders had to invest more cash for the new deal to enable the Works to be bought outright.

Incredibly, an appeal sent out on a Monday morning brought in more than £80,000 by the Wednesday before the sale was completed.

Derek said: “This isn’t a financial investment in the normal sense. No-one will make a killing out of this project, we just need people’s cash for quite a long time, which is a big ask these days.”  

The society will start work on the building very soon with a programme planned out for the next decade.  

Meanwhile the tenants – including metalworkers, engineers and craftsmen, furniture makers, artists and musicians – will be able to continue their work in the building as the restoration takes place around them.

Open days are being planned with tours of the site along with other events to make use of the spaces in the courtyard.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/historic-sheffield-building-saved-by-campaign-1-5471674

Event - Great Sheffield Flood Anniversary Walk (Bradfield)

Bradfield walkers are marking the anniversary of the Great Sheffield Flood with two guided walks.

The first will be held on Monday, March 11. This will start at 10.30am from Low Bradfield car park to Dale Dyke, returning around 12.30pm. Then, after lunch at 1.30pm, the walk will head to High Bradfield to view flood graves and church, returning around 3.30pm.

On Tuesday, March 12 take part in a walk around the Loxley Valley. It will start at 10.30am from Malin Bridge tram terminus and finishing around 1pm at Damflask Reservoir embankment.

Additional info

Address: Sheffield S6 6HE

Tags: Great Sheffield Flood Anniversary, guided walk, Bradfield

Web link: http://www.bradfield-walkers.org.uk/GuidedWalks.html

From: http://postcodegazette.com/news/9003080452/great-sheffield-flood-anniversary-walk-AT-sheffield-bradfield/

Event - Church centenary needs your help (North Anston)

NORTH Anston Methodist Church is preparing for its centenary celebrations next month - and needs YOUR help.

An exhibition full of memories from the past 100 years will be set up in the church over the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March.

It will be officially opened at 10.30am on the Saturday 9th by Superintendent Minister Rev Peter Sheasby.

Later that evening the celebration will continue at a centenary concert, with Double Octave set to perform at 7.30pm.

Officials are keen to hear from anyone who was married or christened at the church - or attended any of the clubs or group that are held there.

Jim Hardy, of the church’s social outreach group said: “Plans are moving forward to make the centenary a memorable event therefore we are searching for past friends who used to attend chapel or have been associated in any way.”

“Were you married or were your children christened at the chapel, did you attend Sunday School, were you a Sunday School Queen or in the Girls Brigade? If so, then please let us now.”

“Around the outside walls are many names of which we do not know of, therefore we wonder is there anyone out there who may be related or can help us in any way.”

“If there is anyone, we are looking for old photographs of events, weddings or any stories related to the chapel which would be of interest to display in an exhibition.”

The church is home to a host of groups including the Girls Brigade, The Wells Singers, Shoe Box Drop In Centre and Messy Place.

The building as it stands today, on the Wells, off Main Street, was originally planned as the school room with the main church due to be built at a later date. But due to costs, the development was abandoned.

A small extension was later built to the rear along with a number of alterations inside.

Anyone who can assist with the exhibition, no matter how small, should contact any member of the social outreach group - Elsie Daniels on 564774, Sue Boyles on 567159, Jeanette Street on 563614, chairman Margaret Moore on 550071 or Jim Hardy on 563079.

Tickets for the concert are £6 and are available from Jim on 01909 563079. A donation will be made to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
 

From: http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local-news/church-centenary-needs-your-help-1-5427398

Event - Local Finds and Their Preservation (Worksop)

The next Priories Historical society talk takes place on Thursday March 7th.  Sam Glasswell from the Bassetlaw Museum in Retford comes to talk about artefacts found in our local area and the techniques used to keep them in good condition.

The talk starts at 7.30pm at the BCVS Old Abbey School building next to the Worksop Priory (S80 2BU). Entrance is still only £3 (or £2 for members) Free tea/coffee and biscuits are provided at each meeting. Membership remains the same at only £5 per year.

PHS website is at  http://priorieshistoricalsociety.btck.co.uk/

News - Nine homes for Roman remains site (Southwell)

Nine luxury, three-storey homes could be built on a site in Southwell believed to contain Roman remains of national importance. 

 

New plans for the Church Street site, which contains the remains of a Roman villa and a Saxon burial ground, have been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council.

It comes more than a year after previous plans for 29 homes, including apartments, were rejected on the grounds they were unsuitable for a site next to the minster and in the town’s conservation area.

The new application shows large homes, most with five bedrooms, and each with a garage. There appears to be no lower-cost housing included.

It said: “The site is sustainably located in Southwell and will enable the redundant Minster School land to be brought into an appropriate alternative use, delivering high-quality housing and positively contributing to and reinforcing the historic character of the area.”

Heritage groups in Southwell have been vehemently opposed to any kind of development on the site and wish to see it preserved as a heritage park.

They have submitted plans for a heritage park to the district council.

Mr Mike Kirton, on behalf of Southwell Heritage Park Campaign, said: “Our views are shared by the 3,000-plus people who signed the petition in 2011.

“The report from the archaeological survey has reinforced our views that this site should be saved from development and become a heritage park.

“This is one of the most important historical sites in the county and we have urged English Heritage to re-appraise the area covered by the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

“We hope the district council will take the new evidence into account when considering this latest application for nine substantial properties.”

The plans will also be considered by Southwell Town Council and Southwell Civic Society.

The chairman of the civic society, Mr Brendan Haigh, said: “This application has just come in and we giving urgent consideration to it.” 

 

From:  http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Nine-homes-for-Roman-remains-site